Improvement on both sides

Pope John Paul II High junior running back Quer’Derius Hunter runs around the left end as Portland junior defensive lineman Hayden Read pursues. Hunter had a seven-yard touchdown run during Friday evening’s scrimmage.
(Photo:
Craig Harris/Sumner County Publications
)

PORTLAND – The Portland and Pope John Paul II prep football teams were looking for progress during last Friday evening's scrimmage.

Both felt that they made some improvements as they battled at Edgar Johnson Stadium.

In the varsity portion of the scrimmage, the Knights outscored the host squad, 13-3.

"The positive thing is the overall attitude of the team," PJP II third-year head coach Jerry Joslin said. "We had a little fire about us that we haven't seen."

It was the second scrimmage for both teams. The Knights hosted a four-way scrimmage with La Vergne, Pearl-Cohn and Signal Mountain one week earlier, while the Panthers struggled in their opening scrimmage at Hillsboro.

"We showed improvement," Portland first-year head coach Greg Cavanah said. "We still have a lot of work to do, especially in our pass defense. We looked better with our option game.

"It was pretty good competition for us."

The scrimmage began with each team taking a 10-play possession that involved having the football at various position on the field, giving each team the opportunity to work on specific situations.

Knight junior placekicker Jackson Morris was successful on the point-after touchdown (PAT) kick, after his 56-yard field-goal attempt sailed significantly short earlier in the possession.

The Panthers struggled with ball security during their opening 10-play series, though senior quarterback Chris Greer did run for a 5-yard touchdown.

Then, the two teams played four quarters of down-and-distance football.

Junior quarterback Ethan Brummett opened Portland's first offensive series by running for gains of 13 and 14 yards, and senior tailback Devontae House carried the football for a 10-yard pick-up two plays later.

That drive stalled, but senior placekicker Mason Denning split the uprights with a 31-yard field goal.

"The (offensive) line opened a few more holes (on Friday)," Cavanah said. "There was improvement there."

Cavanah indicated that both Brummett and Greer are still battling for playing time at quarterback.

"They both read the option well," Cavanah said. "There's not that much of a difference in both of them. I'm not scared to put either one of them in."

Pope John Paul II responded by scoring on two of its next three possessions.

The Knights' second series was an 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive.

PJP II running backs Quer'Derius Hunter and Jamaal Thompson split six carries, and Brooks completed all four of his pass attempts on the progression – gains of 14 and 4 yards to Jacob Businda and completions of 14 and 8 yards to Dempsey.

Hunter's 7-yard touchdown run concluded the series, and Morris added the PAT.

Panther senior fullback Cody Johnson ripped off a 17-yard run on the next play from scrimmage, but that drive ended with a fumble that PJP II junior Chris Byrne recovered.

"Last Friday (in the four-way scrimmage), we were soft," Joslin said. "We didn't feel like we attacked, and we weren't very physical. It was a little more physical (against Portland) between both teams. Coach Cavanah is doing a good job.

"There's some improving. There's still missed tackles, and we're not wrapping up. It's the basic fundamentals."

After the two teams traded punts, the Knights regained possession at midfield.

Following three carries by Hunter, sophomore quarterback C.J. Laws connected with sophomore running back Jermaine Mason down the seam. Mason eluded one defender and ran to the end zone to complete the 29-yard touchdown.

An offsides penalty on the PAT prompted PJP II to attempt a two-point conversion, but that run failed with seconds remaining in the first half.

"Offensively, we had spurts where we looked pretty good," Joslin said. "It's just consistency."

The junior varsity and freshman squads took the field for the second half.

On the opening possession of the second half, Brooks scrambled for gains of 13 and 6 yards, and he completed a 6-yard pass to Mason and a 10-yarder to Dempsey.

Then, a quick pass to Mason was turned into another 29-yard touchdown, and Mason tacked on the PAT.

The Knights scored again on their next possession, with Laws connecting with sophomore Carter Singleton for a 15-yard gain. Sophomore Drew Bledsoe ran for gains of 13 and 10 yards on that series, and the drive was capped when Laws threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to junior Christopher Stinnett.

Morris again added the PAT.

Portland freshman quarterback Brandon Meador completed a pass to a leaping Emmanuel Johnson four plays later, and the sophomore turned that into a 43-yard gain on a fourth-and-9 play.

However, PJP II junior Jeffrey Valera intercepted a pass on the next play, ending that progression.

The Panthers did score on their next possession, a seven-play, 55-yard march.

Emmanuel Johnson ran for 47 of those yards, including a 20-yard touchdown run on a toss sweep around the left end.

The conversion run failed.

The Knight freshmen responded with a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive.

Portland's freshmen answered as Sevonte Sumpter-Bey ripped of a 31-yard run on the next play.

Three plays later, Drake Vanatta carried the football for 13 yards, setting up Sumpter-Bey's 2-yard plunge into the end zone.

Sumpter-Bey had a successful conversion run as well on the final play of the scrimmage.

"Some of the coaches couldn't believe the attitude they came back with after the Hillsboro scrimmage," Cavanah said. "The kids are working hard."

Joslin echoed those sentiments.

"We had a real good week of practice," Joslin said. "We're in that stage of the first week of school, but they came out every day and did a real good job.

"We just continue to try to make progress."

The Knights were slated to host Springfield on Tuesday evening in their final preseason scrimmage. They'll face Wilson Central in the Trousdale County High's Tobacco Bowl Jamboree on Saturday evening and then will open the season against visiting Stratford on Friday, Aug. 22.

The Panthers have their final preseason scrimmage on Friday evening at 7, at neighboring Franklin-Simpson (Ky.).

Portland also opens the regular season on Aug. 22, at neighboring Westmoreland.